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Sci-Fi psychic's reach predicted to grow
2001-08-15
By Terry Morrow
Scripps Howard News Service
If you've never seen John Edward at work on his incredibly popular series, "Crossing Over," then here's the gist of what he is all about: He is to the spirit world what Ma Bell is to telecommunications.
"I'm like a phone," he says with a thick Brooklyn accent during a telephone interview. "I act as a conduit of energy. It plays through to me. The 'other side' is like a radio station broadcasting a signal. I'm like ... the antenna. I tune in to the signal and play it back."
Those "signals" manifest themselves in almost the same way daydreams do for the rest of us, he says.
"I do not see the energy of the people," he says. "I hear their energy. When I say that, I mean I have to concentrate on what I find myself thinking about during a session."
Debuting two years ago, "Crossing Over With John Edward" has been the breakout hit of cable television. Edward walks through his studio audience and amazes the people with detailed information about dearly departed family members and friends. He tells them he communicates with their energy, something he says he has been able to do since around the age of 12. At 15, after a reading with a psychic, Edward says he came to accept this as a role in life.
He started doing private readings from his home. Word of mouth brought him to the attention of New York radio, followed by national appearances on television and, eventually, the Sci-Fi Channel.
At http://www.Scifi.com, Edward's bio says he was "an ordinary kid growing up on Long Island. He played ball with his friends, ate pizza on Friday nights, had out-of-body experiences and visions of dead relatives he had never known, and predicted phone calls and surprise visits."
That's normal?
"I know it sounds strange, but if I want to break it down to the barest definition, then that's the way I can explain it," he says. "I quiet my mind, and whatever thoughts come in after that ... I discuss them."
Edward's psychic wave is expanding. "Crossing Over" goes into syndication on Aug. 27. On the same day it goes into syndication, "Crossing Over" moves to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays on the Sci-Fi Channel.
"Crossing Over: The Stories Behind the Stories," his latest book, will be out on Aug. 21. It's a follow-up to his best seller, "One Last Time," which explained how he got into the medium business.
Despite his schedule, he says he doesn't talk to the dead daily.
If he did, "I'd be locked up in a rubber room by now," Edward says.
Funerals, he says, turn out to be a "workday" so he doesn't attend many. He believes in reincarnation, too.
"My job, from the get-go, is not about being on TV. It's about educating people about the work that I do. ... After the first two weeks of doing 'Crossing Over,' I discovered that this, to me, is not a television show. I probably drove everyone here crazy. I told everyone (on the crew) that I would honor requests (for a reading).
"As soon as I opened my mouth to do them, I told them ... to get out of my way and let me do my readings. That's literally how everybody is around here. They leave me alone."
Shooting one episode of "Crossing Over" can turn into several hours. Once he establishes communication with the 'other side,' he says, he goes with the flow.
"No one tells me to stop. I keep going until I drop or I cannot go anymore. These people are coming here, and they are honoring us with their presence. It's their (late) families and friends who become the show. I need to do the best job I can to get to as many people as I can."
The show also has a grief counselor on standby to talk to guests for whom Edward reads.
Though he has been in communication with the dead hundreds of times, Edward says he doesn't know what the "other side" is like.
"I don't live there. I live here," he says. "I would not venture to even say what it is like, but I will say this: What I have gathered is that the 'other side' is made up of different levels.
"It's a place where we continue to learn and grow. It's not like we get a harp, a halo, a book of knowledge and a cloud for the rest of eternity. We still have issues to work out."
A practicing Catholic, Edward counts nuns and priests among his supporters.
There are skeptics, of course. But whether Edward is a clever fake or the real deal doesn't hurt his ratings. After two years, it's not even a legitimate concern to be raised anymore. A case can be made that audiences are tuning to him for entertainment more than knowledge.
"I honestly don't think I am misunderstood," he says. "I think 20 percent of the population will believe anything anyone says.
"I think there is another 20 percent of the population that would not believe this even if their (late) grandma showed up in front of them and was cooking Sunday dinner.
"Then there is the 60 percent who say, 'I don't know. Let me think about it.' I think if I am misunderstood at all, that it is from (both of) the 20 percents."
Among the "60 percent" are celebrities such as MTV VJ Ananda Lewis, soap actress Linda Dano, Jade Barrymore and "Roswell" star Katherine Heigl, all of whom have had readings on the show.
Anyone can talk to the dead, Edward says.
"Mediation is the key," he adds. "I pray every day. I don't step out to do anything without praying."
What are you feelings about John Edward or people who claim to be able to talk with the dead? He is coming to Anaheim, CA in October and I am considering going out to see him in person. Along with him will be Sylvia Brown and two other psychics. A full day seminar for the whole family!
2001-08-15
By Terry Morrow
Scripps Howard News Service
If you've never seen John Edward at work on his incredibly popular series, "Crossing Over," then here's the gist of what he is all about: He is to the spirit world what Ma Bell is to telecommunications.
"I'm like a phone," he says with a thick Brooklyn accent during a telephone interview. "I act as a conduit of energy. It plays through to me. The 'other side' is like a radio station broadcasting a signal. I'm like ... the antenna. I tune in to the signal and play it back."
Those "signals" manifest themselves in almost the same way daydreams do for the rest of us, he says.
"I do not see the energy of the people," he says. "I hear their energy. When I say that, I mean I have to concentrate on what I find myself thinking about during a session."
Debuting two years ago, "Crossing Over With John Edward" has been the breakout hit of cable television. Edward walks through his studio audience and amazes the people with detailed information about dearly departed family members and friends. He tells them he communicates with their energy, something he says he has been able to do since around the age of 12. At 15, after a reading with a psychic, Edward says he came to accept this as a role in life.
He started doing private readings from his home. Word of mouth brought him to the attention of New York radio, followed by national appearances on television and, eventually, the Sci-Fi Channel.
At http://www.Scifi.com, Edward's bio says he was "an ordinary kid growing up on Long Island. He played ball with his friends, ate pizza on Friday nights, had out-of-body experiences and visions of dead relatives he had never known, and predicted phone calls and surprise visits."
That's normal?
"I know it sounds strange, but if I want to break it down to the barest definition, then that's the way I can explain it," he says. "I quiet my mind, and whatever thoughts come in after that ... I discuss them."
Edward's psychic wave is expanding. "Crossing Over" goes into syndication on Aug. 27. On the same day it goes into syndication, "Crossing Over" moves to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays on the Sci-Fi Channel.
"Crossing Over: The Stories Behind the Stories," his latest book, will be out on Aug. 21. It's a follow-up to his best seller, "One Last Time," which explained how he got into the medium business.
Despite his schedule, he says he doesn't talk to the dead daily.
If he did, "I'd be locked up in a rubber room by now," Edward says.
Funerals, he says, turn out to be a "workday" so he doesn't attend many. He believes in reincarnation, too.
"My job, from the get-go, is not about being on TV. It's about educating people about the work that I do. ... After the first two weeks of doing 'Crossing Over,' I discovered that this, to me, is not a television show. I probably drove everyone here crazy. I told everyone (on the crew) that I would honor requests (for a reading).
"As soon as I opened my mouth to do them, I told them ... to get out of my way and let me do my readings. That's literally how everybody is around here. They leave me alone."
Shooting one episode of "Crossing Over" can turn into several hours. Once he establishes communication with the 'other side,' he says, he goes with the flow.
"No one tells me to stop. I keep going until I drop or I cannot go anymore. These people are coming here, and they are honoring us with their presence. It's their (late) families and friends who become the show. I need to do the best job I can to get to as many people as I can."
The show also has a grief counselor on standby to talk to guests for whom Edward reads.
Though he has been in communication with the dead hundreds of times, Edward says he doesn't know what the "other side" is like.
"I don't live there. I live here," he says. "I would not venture to even say what it is like, but I will say this: What I have gathered is that the 'other side' is made up of different levels.
"It's a place where we continue to learn and grow. It's not like we get a harp, a halo, a book of knowledge and a cloud for the rest of eternity. We still have issues to work out."
A practicing Catholic, Edward counts nuns and priests among his supporters.
There are skeptics, of course. But whether Edward is a clever fake or the real deal doesn't hurt his ratings. After two years, it's not even a legitimate concern to be raised anymore. A case can be made that audiences are tuning to him for entertainment more than knowledge.
"I honestly don't think I am misunderstood," he says. "I think 20 percent of the population will believe anything anyone says.
"I think there is another 20 percent of the population that would not believe this even if their (late) grandma showed up in front of them and was cooking Sunday dinner.
"Then there is the 60 percent who say, 'I don't know. Let me think about it.' I think if I am misunderstood at all, that it is from (both of) the 20 percents."
Among the "60 percent" are celebrities such as MTV VJ Ananda Lewis, soap actress Linda Dano, Jade Barrymore and "Roswell" star Katherine Heigl, all of whom have had readings on the show.
Anyone can talk to the dead, Edward says.
"Mediation is the key," he adds. "I pray every day. I don't step out to do anything without praying."
What are you feelings about John Edward or people who claim to be able to talk with the dead? He is coming to Anaheim, CA in October and I am considering going out to see him in person. Along with him will be Sylvia Brown and two other psychics. A full day seminar for the whole family!
